Top 10 LASIK Myths and the Truths Behind Them
Myth 1: LASIK is not real surgery.
Fact: LASIK is surgery, but with proper care, it’s not dangerous or risky. Numerous clinical studies show that the chance of serious vision-reducing complications is extremely low.
Myth 2: Complications and side effects should be expected after laser vision correction.
Fact: As with any other surgery, there are potential immediate side effects like moderate glare or dry eyes. But these are likely to subside in short order. Again, clinical studies of laser vision correction have documented the risks of having a serious vision-reducing complication as extremely low.
Myth 3: Laser vision correction is so new that no one really knows if there are any long-term side effects.
Fact: Laser vision correction became widely available in the United States in the mid-1990s. In the 25 years since, no long-term ill effects of the procedure are known or even display any evidence.
Myth 4: There is only one type of laser used to treat all patients.
Fact: There are a variety of lasers that can be used depending on the needs and prescription of each patient. After careful screening, Dr. Yaldo identifies the most appropriate laser for your situation or condition. In fact, Dr. Yaldo is the only eye surgeon in SE Michigan with the CATz laser, the most advanced in all of ophthalmology.
Myth 5: It doesn’t matter which doctor performs your procedure because the laser does all the work.
Fact: The surgeon’s skill and the level of care offered is an essential element in the success of any surgical procedure. The laser is the surgeon’s tool to perform a delicate surgical procedure based on skill, experience and expertise. Pre- and post-operative care by both the surgeon and his staff is important and is available to all patients of the Yaldo Eye Center.
Myth 6: The best indication of a surgeon’s ability is the number of procedures he or she has performed.
Fact: The number of procedures performed by a surgeon indicates his or her level of experience, and is an important factor in selecting a surgeon. Potential patients should first consult their own eye doctor to recommend a surgeon and also talk to family and friends to relate their lasik experiences. Dr. Yaldo has performed more lasik procedures than anyone in Michigan, nearly 30,000, which makes him Michigan’s most experienced lasik surgeon.
Myth 7: LASIK can forever end patients’ needs for glasses.
Fact: Most patients with mild to moderate prescriptions can achieve 20/20 vision or better and never again need glasses or contact lenses. During the pre-surgical screening, your doctor should be able to determine the range of your probable outcomes. However, as patients get into their mid-forties or thereabouts, the need for reading glasses often arises. Fortunately, there are number of procedures to deal with that issue and help prevent the need for reading glasses.
Myth 8: Anyone who wants to have LASIK is a candidate.
Fact: This is almost true. You must be 18, in good health with eyes free of diseases such as cataracts and glaucoma. If so, nearsightedness, farsightedness and even astigmatism can all be corrected with life-changing visual clarity. Appropriate screening, like the detailed evaluations at the Yaldo Eye Center, is the most important step in preventing complications.
Myth 9: Since the outcomes are all the same, the cheapest surgery is no different than the most expensive one.
Fact: “You get what you pay for” also applies to laser vision correction. Lasik can be performed at low cost using old technology, such as using a blade called a mechanical keratome, and discount centers often come up short on patient screening and care. All laser lasik, such as Wavefront or CATz, as well as life time enhancements and follow-up are very important.
Myth 10: New lasik technologies continue to be introduced every year. Patients should wait for doctors to find the best one.
Fact: The current LASIK technologies provide stunning outcomes. CATz, or topography guided lasik, is designed to give most patients better than 20-20 vision. Future technologies may make LASIK available to a wider group of potential patients whose vision cannot currently be corrected, but if you’re one of the over 95% who do qualify as a patient, there’s no reason to wait for something better.
Mechanical engineering Assistant Professor Adela Ben-Yakar at The University of Texas at Austin has developed a laser “microscalpel” that destroys a single cell while leaving nearby cells intact, which could improve the precision of surgeries for cancer, epilepsy and other diseases.
A compact fiber-optic probe developed for the space program has now proven valuable for patients in the clinic as the first non-invasive early detection device for cataracts, the leading cause of vision loss worldwide.
Stem cells collected from human corneas restore transparency and don’t trigger a rejection response when injected into eyes that are scarred and hazy, according to experiments conducted in mice by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.